Cement: LafargeHolcim will restructure its network in France and cut 200 jobs – L’Express

The project submitted by Lafarge France provides both for modernizing the plant Martres-Tolosane (Haute-Garonne) and also cement the transformation of La Couronne (Charente) and Le Havre (Seine maritime) in simple grinding centers, the company said in a statement.

A total of 260 employees are affected on both sites which will be converted, or 116 and 144 in La Couronne in Le Havre, did we said a union source.

Management “ announced retain 31 on the Le Havre site (St Vigor Ymonville, Ed) and 27 of the Crown site “, said to AFP Sylvain Moreno, central CGT Lafarge Cement.

So, “ there would be 202 affected employees to be reclassified ” or who would go through resignations or terminations by mutual agreement, he added, confirming South information -Where is.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the central works council and was turned down Wednesday in local works councils.

As part of its project, the group says it plans to invest 117 million euros by the end of 2017 “ to maintain a network of plants, perennial, efficient and competitive in France . ”

The cement Martres-Tolosane will thus “ modernized with more efficient equipment in energy and environmental efficiency .”

Of the two sites of the Crown and Le Havre, 49 retirements are planned, did it was learned from the company, and “ reclassification solutions in France “will be offered to 153 other employees.

For the CGT is “ the culmination of a strategy developed for many years and who is ultimately to import the raw material of cement, clinker ” . “ In Le Havre, the clinker will be supplied by Greece and Spain. It is the philosophy of making cement in France ,” he says.

The difficulties of the site in Le Havre will be aggravated by the forthcoming opening of a competitor grinding center near the port of Le Havre, told AFP his manager Didier Vinchent.

The CGT fears a closing “ progressive ” in the longer term the two sites, as was the case for Frangey cement plant in Yonne. He says “ very worried ” for staff, referring, about Frangey, suicide attempts, divorce and hospitalization after the announcement of the closure.

“ LafargeHolcim comes lengthen the series of job cuts announcements in France, including in the same employment area ,” said his side with the AFP Philippe Springinsfeld coordinator CFTC.

“ Beyond these ads are a tragedy for the employees and their families, the CFTC is very concerned about the reality of the economic situation of our country. How many jobs will have be sacrificed before the state takes awareness of the seriousness of the situation of our country ‘ “, has he asked.

Lafarge France stresses that “ since 2008, the French cement market is facing a structural decline (-30%) which induces excess production capacity .”

“ The French cement market is historically low at the same level it was in 1960 ” Mr Vinchent said.

This leads Lafarge France to “ adjust its cement network market “, despite the “ Important competitiveness efforts undertaken in each of its sites “said the group.

The negotiations concerning the social measures will begin February 15, does one said a union source.

France Lafarge employs over 4,500 employees at more than 400 sites in three businesses (cement, aggregates, concrete).